Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls Spring Rolls

Finally, flavorful Vietnamese spring rolls are within reach, boasting fresh ingredients, but will your rolling technique make or break them?

fresh vietnamese spring rolls

Craving a light, fresh, and flavorful bite?

Master the art of crafting Vietnamese spring rolls, a delightful culinary adventure that's easier than you think!

Get ready to roll your way to deliciousness with this simple guide.

Key Ingredients

essential components for recipes

Let's talk about the key ingredients you'll need to whip up some seriously tasty Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls. You're gonna need about 12-15 medium shrimp—or prawns, if you're feeling fancy!—peeled and cleaned.

Don't forget the dressing! Grab ¼ cup of lime juice, ¼ cup of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1finely chopped garlic clove and as much red chili as you want!

For the salad, get 2.5 oz of those thin rice noodles—they're the best. Then, we're talkin' about 3 cups of shredded iceberg lettuce, 1 cup of carrot cut into thin matchsticks, 1 ½ cups each of cucumber and bean sprouts. And oh – you're gonna need some herb action: ¼ cup each of fresh coriander and mint leaves. These are essential for that fresh Vietnamese flavor! You could replace garlic prawns with chicken!

Preparation Instructions

preparation instructions provided here

Now, let's get cooking! First, I like to prep my garlic shrimp. I'm a big fan of flavor, so, in a bowl, I'll mix about 12-15 shrimp with a tablespoon of olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, plus a pinch of salt and pepper—easy peasy! Let it sit for ten mins. Next, let's whip up the dressing! Grab a jar because we're shaking things up! Combine these, shake it up, and let it sit for ten minutes:

  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce, balanced isn't it!
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar

Consider using fish sauce as a base component of the dressing like the chicken salad recipe suggests. While that's sitting, I heat a skillet over high heat and cook them for just about 2 minutes or until browned and cooked through—yum, can't wait! Remove from the skillet, and onto a plate. Prepare and arrange the noodles and remaining salad ingredient. Drizzle with the dressing! Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

serving food ideas creatively

I think this's best served fresh! Don't let it sit too long, or the noodles might get a bit sticky – nobody wants that, right? So, get ready to plunge in as soon as you've assembled everything.

Now, you could plate it up all fancy on a big dish, making it look like you're a professional chef or something. Or, hey, just toss everything together in a big bowl – I do that all the time! Drizzle that tasty dressing all over, or serve it on the side if you're feeling cautious about the flavor. A good complement to the rolls would be using Asian-inspired ingredients in a dipping sauce.

Oh, and don't forget to dig in immediately! Seriously, the flavors are just perfect when everything's nice and vibrant. Trust me; your taste buds'll thank you for it. Who knew healthy could taste so good? I'm already craving more!

Variations

diverse forms and types

Even though I've given you the lowdown on how I make my Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls, don't think for a second that you can't mix things up a little! It's your kitchen, after all – go wild! Here are some ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

  • Protein Power: I'm talking about grilled chicken or even crispy tofu instead of shrimp—you could even try thinly sliced pork! Just prep them with a little garlic and salt.
  • Veggie Variety: Forget the typical lettuce. Load yours with carrots, cucumbers, and mint!
  • Sauce Swap: I love peanut sauce–it's tangy and sweet! Try different dipping sauces, like a spicy chili sauce.

Short Recipe Version

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 0 mins

Serving size: 4

Ingredients:

  • 8 rice paper wrappers
  • 4 oz cooked shrimp, halved
  • 4 oz cooked vermicelli noodles
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 1/2 cup julienned carrots
  • 1/2 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Dipping sauce (peanut sauce or sweet chili sauce)

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shallow dish with warm water.
  2. Dip one rice paper wrapper into the warm water for a few seconds until softened.
  3. Lay the wrapper flat on a clean surface.
  4. Arrange shrimp, noodles, lettuce, carrots, bean sprouts, mint, and cilantro in the center of the wrapper.
  5. Fold the sides of the wrapper inward, then tightly roll from the bottom up.
  6. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
  7. Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):

  • Calories: 200
  • Protein: 15g
  • Fat: 5g
  • Carbohydrates: 25g